The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-23
WEDNESDAY, APRIL IS.


A. Saxton leading, began at $3.50 with
devotional exercises. Professor Stand
ish, of Lombard University, gave re-
view and criticism of Tuesdays work.
''The Art of Sermon making was to
have been considered by Professor J.
G. Lee, but recent serious accident
detained him from the Institute. Rev.
j. Coleman Adams and the Rev. Mr..
Squires were appointed substitutes.
Mr.. Adams remarks in substance were:
"There is an art of sermon-making.
Sermons do not come by nature, they
must be constructed according to plan,
and with a purpose, definite and distinct.
The motive of the sermon must be NOR
alto stir the moral nature, impress
the moral sense and move the will. The
material of the sermon should be drawn
from all possible sources. The preach
er should look ahead and store in ad-
vance. Then he will not need to "cram"
for every sermon or series of sermons.
There ought to be treasury of mater
ial to draw from. In the method of
presenting material, every preacher
must be a law unto himself. 1t is a
good thing to study many sermons, from
all types of preachers. Canon Liddon,
Horace Bushnell and DR.. Martineau
were especially commended as good to
study for model and strength. Every
man should preach extemporaneously
or from manuscript, according to his
own endowment and ability. The meas
ure of the preacher is, after all, that
which determines the quality and power
of the sermon; the preacher must be
possessed of faith, knowledge, large
sympathy and love in order to preach
effectively.
Rev. Mr.. Squires followed with re-
marks, in many respects, of similar
character, and urging more particularly
freedom in the pulpit from the manu-
script. Let the preacher Drite, but
leave his manuscript at home. This
he would not make general rule, but
it was found effective in his own ex-
perience.
Comparison of Recent Sermon Topics and
Treatment
was next in order. Mary Garard pre-
sented the outline of discourse on
"Faith,n J. F. SCHNEIDER, one on ''The
Parable of the Prodigal Son." and H.
L. Garfield on spiritual Loss and
Gain" This occupied the time until
noon. There was no criticism of the
sermons as topics or examples of treat
ment; but they were duly noticed in
course by Prof. Standish, on the morn
ing of Thursday, in his review of the
days work.
The Afternoon paper
was read by James Gorton, of Cedar
Falls, Iowa. His subject was, 1.-The
Administration of our Organized
Churches" We have done some I'M
systematic and unwise work. We are
suffering the penalty in the form of
dormant churches. Especially is this
true in the Western States. A wise
policy of administration would have
produced more beneficial results. The
Methodist system was cited as worthy
of consideration in our endeavor to
improve the situation. Continuity of
pastoral administration is the all-im-
portant feature in attaining denomina-
tional success. 1t was suggested that
a ministers league, or some kind of
compact should be in force, which will
prevent spasmodic and secure eontinu-
Gus administration. This paper was
referred to a committee. Discussion
was postponed.
DR.. H. W Thomas's Address.
In the evening at s, the auditorium
of the Church of the Redeemer was
well filled to listen to an address from
Rev. DR.. Thomas on "The Universal
list Church as seen by a Friendly Critic"
The Introductory exercises were con-
Quoted by the pastor and S. II. Robin,
of Bay City, Mich, and E. II. Chaplin.
of Lincoln, Neb. The music was very
finely rendered by the organist and
quartet choir. Mr.. Conklin intro
duced DR.. Thomas in a few words of
warm eulogy. DIR. Thomas followed in
an address of an hour. He spoke in
substance as follows:
II appreciate the courtesy of this In
stitute. We cannot escape moral and
religious questions. Thoughts of right
and wrong have always exercised the
mind of man. Organized religion is
one of the institutions of the world.
The life determines the body. The
different divisions of the church were
traced, the arbitrary and ceremonial, the
moral and spiritual, and the two forms
of government, the despotic or episcO-
pal, and the liberal or congregational.
The Universalist church is congrega.